Luther Forest holds AMD info luncheon in Saratoga

Wilton Supervisor Art Johnson, a member of the county Water Committee who attended the luncheon, said he believes the county will go forward with the $67 million water system.

"We'll get it done. It's too important not to," he said.

Steve Groseclose, AMD's environmental, health and safety director, said the company has a strong commitment to environmental stewardship. While he didn't talk specifics, he said the company strives to maintain and exceed all government environmental guidelines. Outside, a handful of protesters disagreed.

On the sidewalk outside the City Center, about a half-dozen people protested the plans and state funding for them.

"I think the public has been sold a bill of goods that has no reality," said William Engleman of Clifton Park. "There will be tremendous destruction of natural habitat, totally destroying a natural area."

The Luther Forest campus site is now a 1,350-acre wooded area. It has been approved for up to four chip fabs.

"This is an inappropriate area for this kind of development. This will be a sprawl-inducing project," said Barbara Trypaluk, chairwoman of the Saratoga County Green Party. She said Saratoga County doesn't have the water for the chip fab, and it would be better suited for Albany or Troy.

When asked why she wasn't inside, questioning AMD officials, Trypaluk said the cost kept her out.

"This luncheon should have been free," she said. "At $30 a plate, they're not going to meet regular members of the community, only politicians and businessmen."

Later that day, AMD released quarterly and annual results that showed revenue increased 33 percent in 2006, to $5.2 billion. However, it sustained a net loss of $47 million for the year because of costs associated with its $5.4 billion acquisition in October of ATI Technologies, a graphics chip maker.

Analysts said Intel and AMD have been in a price war in recent months that hurt revenue. AMD is the No. 2 microprocessor manufacturer, a distant second to Intel Corp., but it has been gaining market share.

AMD has approximately 15,000 employees worldwide, according to Caudell.""